TWO government agencies are set to provide capacity-building interventions aimed at improving poor Filipinos’ chances of landing gainful employment.
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), commit to provide skills training, livelihood courses and complementary support-program services that will help elevate the socioeconomic status of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and non-4Ps beneficiaries.
Director-General Danilo P. Cruz of Tesda and DSWD chief Rexlon Gatchalian are leading this collaborative effort, as they recently executed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for their agencies to engage in a sustainable livelihood program for beneficiaries, particularly those from the marginalized sector.
Tesda will allot scholarship slots for beneficiaries, then hold skills training and assessment for identified 4Ps and non-4Ps recipients.
DSWD, on the other hand, will evaluate the beneficiaries’ needed skills, then assess and refer them for skills training and microenterprise development.
Cruz said that Tesda is working with the DSWD, other state agencies and the private sector in helping raise the standard of living of Filipinos, especially the marginalized ones, by extending to them appropriate skills training and livelihood programs.
“Rest assured…we will render our utmost support and commitment to ensure the attainment of the goals of this project,” the Tesda chief confirmed, as he noted the partnership is in-line Tesda’s strategies of “Social Equity for Work force Inclusion” and “Poverty Reduction.”
Before this tie-up, Cruz added the agencies already have a long-standing alliance.
Also present during the MOA signing were Tesda deputy directors-general Aniceto Bertiz III and Vidal Villanueva III, as well as other DSWD officials.
In 2021 Tesda Region III, DSWD Region III, and SM Supermalls teamed up to provide employment for the 4Ps beneficiaries in Central Luzon.
As part of their Gender and Development initiatives, Tesda tied up with DSWD in January and trained women in Eastern Visayas on skills considered fit only for men.